Are budget airlines a flying success?

BUDGET airline Ryanair has been criticised after it announced plans to charge passengers £6 to check in early. The airline, Europe’s busiest, will levy those who check in four days early for flights. What is your experience of budget airlines? Do you mind using them or do they make travelling a misery?

I like the convenience of an early check-in so I have no problem with the small fee. If that’s what it means to avoid the often long, cattle-like line waiting to get on board, then fine. David Tulanian, Los Angeles.

Don’t check in early. If everyone did that, they wouldn’t get the money. I don’t mind using budget airlines but you have to be careful not to have excess luggage or additional cabin bags as they will charge you. Jean-Claude Huntzinger, Lochgelly.

Typical Ryanair. If other airlines were to fly the route, loss of business would soon make them change their mind. Robert Young, Carrickfergus.

I’ve never had any problems with Easyjet, but I certainly would not travel with Ryanair if that’s they way they treat customers. Margaret Brown, Rutherglen.

I try not to use budget airlines, but any time I have there haven’t been any problems, so no complaints from me. Carol Whitehead, Prestwich.

My only experience of Ryanair was not great because they kept charging us to do things at the airport that they said we should have done online. Davie Kerr, Lochaber.

I’ve only flown once with a budget airline. Never again. The plane was so old it had an outside toilet! James Strachan, Aberdeenshire.

I think budget airlines can often be a nightmare. They advertise cheap flights but you are never able to get one at the low price advertised. Then you are charged extra for luggage and if you want an allocated seat. There needs to be more scrutiny of these airlines. Ronald James, Angus.

I tend not to use them as they rarely go where I want to go. Also, all these little add-ons would really annoy me. I would rather pay an extra £20 per seat than have all the fuss. David G. Collins, Yorkshire.

Budget airlines are fine if you can avoid the financial “traps”. Ian Roxburgh, Kilmaurs.